Re: [MDOsprey] Yellow Book Index--NOT

Jlstasz@aol.com
Wed, 28 Jul 1999 07:33:26 EDT


Hi Folks!

I will take the entire credit for NOT having an Index on the Yellow Book. 
Marshall wanted one, and I believe Bob was not opposed, but I had the final 
word and decided against it. My reasoning was simple: if there was an Index, 
many fewer world learn the checklist order.  

The order in the current Yellow Book is essentially what had been in use for 
many years. The next edition, whenever that may appear, will have all of the 
changes recently adopted by the American Ornithologists Union [AOU}. Vultures 
will be moved to storks, the ducks rearranged, vireos will be after crows but 
before chickadees, and the "cardinal finches" moved to after the blackbirds.  
If I have my way again, there will be no Index!   :-)

On another note. The  computer graphics program used to create the Yellow 
Book was developed in 1985. It does not support modern printers. It is not 
Y2K compliant.  The 486 that I ran it on has died and my 188 does not have a 
5.25 floppy drive. The next edition will have to be made from scratch. 

Good Birding!

Jim

Jim Stasz
North Beach MD
jlstasz@aol.com